The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

The hustle and bustle has subsided, and the glitz and glamour have come to an end.

As Yan Hai and his group of playboy brothers, who were as excited as if they had won a battle, left, and as Teng Ao and Yan Ruge took their leave with excitement and a heavy responsibility, the large private room finally returned to tranquility.

The air still held a faint aroma of tea and wine, as if telling the story of the undercurrents and tender moments that had just passed.

Only the core four members of Squad Zero remained in the room—Zeng Long, Ye Feng, Tie Zhu, and Xiao Ya. There was one more person, Zeng Lingyu, whom Zeng Long had forcibly kept in the room by using his gaze.

The waiter had already cleaned up the mess. The night outside the window was as dark as ink, reflecting the warm lights inside.

Zeng Long didn't speak immediately. He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a small glass of pure whiskey, but didn't drink it. He just held it in his hand, feeling the coolness from the ice ball.

He turned around, his gaze falling on Xiaoyu, who had been watching him intently. His gaze was deep and carried an undeniable tenderness.

"Xiaoyu," Zeng Long said, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet private room, "Just now, I gave shares to President Teng and Ruge."

He paused, looking at his sister's eyes widen in surprise, and continued, "Brother Long will also give you shares."

"What? No way! Absolutely not!"

As if burned, Xiaoyu suddenly jumped up from the sofa, her hands flailing frantically in front of her chest, her face filled with panic and resistance.

"Brother Long, how could I possibly take your shares? If Grandpa and Mom and Dad found out, they'd definitely scold me to death and resent me terribly! Besides, I...I..."

Her words came to an abrupt halt as a wave of overwhelming sorrow and guilt washed over her, making her nose sting and her eyes instantly redden.

She desperately wanted to say, "I'm your own sister! Our whole family owes you an irreparable debt of guilt and resentment..."

But those words were too heavy; she feared that saying them would shatter the hard-won warmth before her, so she changed her words, her voice choked with emotion:

"Besides... I haven't done anything for Longyu Group, how... how can I have the nerve to take shares..."

Zeng Long raised his hand and made a gentle yet authoritative "stop" gesture, silencing Xiao Yu from further words.

He didn't explain immediately, but took a deep breath, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, and slowly lit a cigarette.

Pale blue smoke rose in wisps, blurring his sharply defined profile and adding to his indescribable depth and loneliness.

"Xiaoyu," he exhaled a smoke ring, his voice coming through the smoke with a calm that seemed to have seen through the world:

"There are some things I won't say explicitly, but you understand, and your family understands too. I also understand your concerns."

His words were like a key, gently unlocking the heavy emotional door in Xiaoyu's heart.

"But these shares," Zeng Long's gaze pierced through the smoke, fixed firmly on Xiao Yu:

"It's not just for you. It's for you, Zeng Yuan, Zeng Ke, and all the Zeng family members of your generation."

He seemed unwilling to bring the atmosphere into an overly sentimental mode, but if things needed to be made clear, they had to be made clear.

He took a deep drag on his cigarette, as if trying to suppress some emotion along with the smoke.

"Or, you can think of it as a share of the Zeng family that I'm giving them... shares."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the boundless night outside the window, his voice low and powerful:

"As for why I'm giving it to you?" He withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiaoyu again, his eyes sharp as knives, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible gentleness!

"That's because I want you to not be forced to walk in the dark like I was."

These words, like an invisible needle, unexpectedly pierced the softest spot in Xiaoyu's heart, making her tremble all over.

"To your generation," Zeng Long's tone softened, carrying a fatherly, elder brotherly entrustment:

"I want you to be happy, joyful, and carefree. At least, you won't need to work so hard to make money and build your careers anymore."

His words contained a deeper consideration:

"In this way, your parents can do what they should do without any worries, for the country and for their families."

And you, too, can break free from material constraints, freely pursue what you truly want to do, and realize your own life's value.

Zeng Long stared intently at Xiao Yu, his gaze seemingly piercing her soul.

"You...you, Zeng Yuan, and Zeng Ke can call me 'Brother Long' so sincerely and without any barriers. This title is more precious to me than any shares or wealth."

His tone was unequivocal: "Therefore, I don't care about these shares. And you are fully entitled to them, rightfully and without question!"

His voice rose slightly, carrying a grand vision that transcended personal emotion:

"You need to understand, I founded Longyu Group not to accumulate wealth for myself. It's for more... for more people around me who are worth protecting, and to gather strength to do something... more important."

Finally, he turned to Xiaoya, who had been waiting quietly, and gave the order, his tone regaining its usual decisiveness:

"Xiaoya, return ten times the amount of money Xiaoyu transferred to you to Xiaoyu."

Then, he clearly announced: "In addition, we will reserve 5% of Longyu Group shares for Xiaoyu."

"Roger that, boss!" Xiaoya replied crisply, a genuine smile on her face.

She walked over to Xiaoyu, whose eyes were red and who seemed at a loss, gently took her hand, and softly advised her:

Sister Xiaoyu, please accept it! The boss never changes his mind.

Besides, this isn't just for you, it's for Zeng Yuan, Zeng Ke, and all of you brothers and sisters! It's a token of our care and protection!

Xiaoyu could no longer hold back; tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string.

She wasn't crying because she was getting a huge amount of shares, but because of her older brother, Zeng Linglong, who had a tragic fate but a heart as vast as the sea!

He never received the nurturing grace of his biological parents and family from childhood. He struggled to survive in the darkness and experienced hardships and trials that ordinary people could not imagine.

However, when he had the ability, he did not harbor the slightest resentment or demand anything!

Instead, without hesitation, they did everything in their power to create a safe haven for her and all the brothers and sisters of the Zeng family in this generation, sheltering them from the wind and rain!

Her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain causing her internal organs to convulse and shift!

She seemed to see her brother standing on the edge of the vast sea of ​​people, all alone, in the darkest corner, silently and affectionately watching over her and protecting her!

He unreservedly offered all the light and warmth he could obtain to her...

But he himself seemed to be forever one with that darkness.

This profound and selfless dedication moved her deeply, but also filled her with shame and remorse.

Seeing his younger sister sobbing uncontrollably, Zeng Long felt a fleeting pang of heartache in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more and simply stubbed out his cigarette.

Some feelings don't need many words; mutual understanding is enough.

After Zeng Lingyu left the private room with heavy hearts, moved and with incredibly complex emotions, and was gently comforted by Xiaoya, Zeng Long slowly walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

He stood there quietly, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the lamplight, making him appear somewhat lonely.

He silently watched downstairs until he saw Xiaoyu get into the car and the taillights disappear into the night, then he let out a barely audible sigh.

His face had regained its usual calm and depth.

With his back to Ye Feng, Tie Zhu, and Xiao Ya, his gaze seemed to be fixed on a point in the void as he spoke, his voice steady and clear, as if he were deploying an important combat mission:

"Xiaoya, draft a final share allocation plan for Longyu Group."

He began calling out names one by one; each name and number represented a weighty trust and entrustment.

"Teng Ao, 10 points."

"Ru Ge, 5 points."

"Light rain, 5 points."

"All members of Squad Zero share 30 points."

"The three Baroque masters share five points."

"Anna, 5 points."

After saying this, he slowly turned around, a faint smile appearing on his face, tinged with a hint of teasing yet utterly earnest:

"Pass the word down: those brothers outside who are still dancing on the edge of a knife, they'd better take it easy when they're on missions from now on."

His tone became serious: "The shares each of them owns are enough to ensure they and their families' livelihoods for generations. Don't let them lose their lives overseas for the sake of a mission; that would be a huge loss."

He made a promise that would make any soldier devoted to him:

At the same time, they were clearly told that their shares were hereditary.

As long as Longyu Group exists, as long as the company's flag stands, their families and their descendants will forever enjoy this dividend!

Finally, he added, "Also, tell those three old guys Baroque that we've fulfilled part of our promise to take care of them in their old age ahead of schedule."

The room was completely silent.

Ye Feng, Tie Zhu, and Xiao Ya could all sense the almost obsessive protection and gratitude Zeng Long showed for everyone around him behind this plan.

This is not just about money; it's about the business empire he built, a lasting wall of interests and emotions that he erected for all those who follow and care about him!

"Yes, boss!" Xiaoya suppressed her excitement and responded solemnly.

After arranging this major event concerning the future of countless people, Zeng Long's gentle expression quickly faded, replaced by a sharp and vigilant look like that of a falcon.

He looked at Xiaoya and asked the last, and most crucial, question of the evening:

"Have Tang Long and Fang Rong's men caught up with each other's tails yet?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoya's expression immediately turned serious. She shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of solemnity and confusion:

"Boss, not yet. The other side is very well disguised and has extremely strong counter-surveillance capabilities."

She reported in detail: "Tang Long's men are mainly responsible for surveillance and screening of the area around our villa, but so far they have not found any trace of suspicious activity, as if the other party had never appeared."

Fang Rong's men were partly stationed near Jingqing School to keep watch, but they also came up empty-handed.

In addition, as you instructed, he also arranged for external surveillance of the Teng family headquarters, Yuetingyuan and other places where we frequently operate!

But the feedback was always the same: no signs of being followed or monitored were found.

Zeng Long's eyebrows furrowed tightly, forming a deep "川" (river) character.

He walked to the sofa and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his eyes sharp as knives, lost in thought.

This situation is highly unusual!

If the other party was following him, there's no way they wouldn't have continued to monitor and investigate him! That doesn't make sense!

But now, he has sent out two teams of experienced and skilled trackers and counter-trackers, Tang Long and Fang Rong, and used a lot of resources, but they still can't find a trace of the other side.

This gave him an indescribable sense of unease for the first time.

His opponent's caution, experience, and ability to conceal his true intentions exceeded his expectations.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Ye Feng, Tie Zhu, and Xiao Ya. His voice was low and cold, carrying an unprecedented solemnity:

"The people they sent seem to be very professional in terms of skills and methods, and their vigilance and counter-surveillance capabilities are also extremely outstanding."

He paused, then uttered the most unsettling conjecture:

"Either the people following us are extremely patient and have not taken any action so far, lurking in the shadows like venomous snakes, waiting for the best opportunity."

His gaze became incredibly deep as he spoke, word by word:

"Either... the person tracking them isn't even outside."

"And inside... in a way we never expected."

"internal?!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Feng, Tie Zhu, and Xiao Ya's pupils all contracted sharply! A chill silently crept up their spines.

The slight warmth that had just been brought about by the share allocation in the private room was instantly dispelled without a trace by this sudden threat from the unknown depths.

The night outside the window seemed to grow even darker and more dangerous.